Derek Jeter (06/26/74) is a former shortstop who spent his 20-year MLB career with the New York Yankees, winning everything possible. This includes making 14 All-Star appearances and collecting five World Series rings.
In recent years, he became the chief executive officer (CEO) and part-owner of the Miami Marlins in 2017.
Derek Jeter on Twitter: twitter.com/JeterTurn2
Here’s a rundown of the top five Derek Jeter rookie cards and investment advice for the next few years.
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Best 5 Derek Jeter Rookie Cards
After being drafted in 1992, Jeter’s rookie year came a year later, during the height of the junk wax era. Many of the cards were overproduced, but there are still several interesting options to be aware of.
Jeter cards saw a huge run-up between 2017 to 2020, even compared to other cards in the hobby. We made a boatload of money buying Jeter rookie cards, and we hope you do too. Please note we consider the second card on the list one of the best card investments in the hobby.
1992 Derek Jeter Upper Deck Minor League RC #5
It’s a minor league card rather than a traditional RC, but the 1992 Upper Deck is worth checking out if you want the earliest version available. It features a shot of the prospect as he leaps up to make a catch, with a thick white border and a training ground in the background.
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It’s not especially rare by any means, and even gem mint copies are pretty affordable.
1993 Derek Jeter SP Foil RC #279
Without a doubt, this is the most popular/valuable Jeter RC by a wide margin. Good copies of the 1993 SP Foil will sell for a six-figure sum, and it’s easy to see why.
It has a beautiful design, with an image of Jeter making a catch. All of the Premier Prospects cards have foil fronts, making them especially prone to chipping and a variety of additional superficial issues such as flaking.
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It’s not rare, but mint copies are few and far between, leading to a price point that puts the majority of cards from the era to shame.
1993 Derek Jeter Stadium Club Murphy RC #117
It’s nowhere near as valuable compared to the card discussed above, but Jeter’s 1993 Stadium Club is still a great RC. It features a close-up shot of the rookie with a bat held in both hands, as he stares down at the camera.
It’s one of the rarer cards in terms of print runs, while the lack of a hard border leads to scuffing on the dark corners. We’d advise to stick with mint grades and above if possible.
1993 Derek Jeter Topps Gold RC #98
A second addition to the base release from the same year, the ‘93 Topps Gold is a bit of a misnomer. For one thing, it looks almost exactly the same as the normal card, with an image of the player in his Yankees uniform as he stretches back to throw a ball. It has a green and white background which is supposed to resemble a stadium, but it’s a poor design choice overall. It notes that he’s a ‘1992 Draft Pick’ in large text at the top of the card.
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The major difference is a gold tab at the bottom for Jeter’s name, as well as a Topps Gold logo in the top right corner. Once again, the colored foil is the main reason for the increased interest from collectors.
1993 Derek Jeter Select RC #360
The 1993 Select rounds out the list, and it’s another card that notes Jeter’s status as a first-round draft pick. It features an awkward image of the player leaping through the sky, with a blue background that also has a couple of clouds.
The top and the bottom have a separate green section, which leaves space for his name in gold.. This leads to colored corners which are hard to find in mint condition, which is the case for the majority of cards that have managed to make it onto this list.
Checklist
- 1993 SP FOIL #279
- 1993 Select RC #360
- 1993 Stadium Club Murphy RC #117
- 1993 Topps Gold RC #98
- 1993 Score RC #489
- 1993 Pinnacle RC #457
- 1993 Bowman RC #511
- 1993 Score Draft Pick RC Rookie #489
Investment Advice
Investment Rating: 9.5 out of 10
Best Long Term Investment: 1993 Derek Jeter SP Foil RC #279
Rookie Card Ramblings Ownership: Four (4) 1993 SP FOIL RC #279 PSA 8, Three (3) 1993 SP FOIL RC #279 PSA 9, One (1) 1993 Stadium Club Murphy RC #117
Along with Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, and Mickey Mantle, Jeter is clearly one of the best Yankees players of all-time. His top RC is always going to be a big deal in the collecting world.
Nowadays, Jeter is more likely to make the news for a random celebrity story, rather than anything to do with baseball. It makes sense, as he wholly embraced his role as a star, with multiple endorsement deals and clutch performances.
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He was also elected into the Hall of Fame in August this year, one of only 57 players to be selected in their first year of eligibility. Of course, the induction was canceled due to the health and safety concerns presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, so we didn’t get to see a speech from the Yankees icon.
Jeter is one of the greatest players ever, and his top rookie cards have been able to rise beyond the worst of the junk wax era. With that being said, the 1993 SP Foil is a bit of an anomaly, as many of the rookie cards exhibited wear from the moment a pack was opened. Even so, it’s another fitting tribute for one of the GOATs.
From an investment perspective, Jeter’s RCs are some of the better options on the market. They’re covered, and he’s well respected by fans and analysts alike. Prices have yet to settle as he’s only just entered the Hall of Fame, while they’re likely to continue to rise over the next year or so.
There are options to suit almost every budget, so we’d recommend looking at any of the Jeter cards we’ve listed if you’re looking for the best investment pieces.